Hemant Mehta's Blog, page 1807

Man Infected With Measles Visits California Maternity Ward — Plus Build-A-Bear and Disney Stores

An unidentified man who had come down with the measles has possiblyinfected unvaccinated children in and aroundFresno, California.

Measles, unpleasant for adults but frequently deadly for children, is a highly contagious disease. The virusspreads through the air. Everyone over the age of six 12 months can and should be vaccinated against it. Infants, doctors say,shouldnot.

Tell it to this guy.

The Fresno County Department of Health said there is a confirmed case of measles in Fresno County. Heal...

How Atheists Can Deal with Death

The video below, part of The Atheist Voice series, discusses how atheists can deal with death:

A rough transcript of the video can be found on the YouTube page in the “About” section.

We’d love to hear your thoughts on the project — more videos will be posted soon — and we’d also appreciate your suggestions as to which questions we ought to tackle next!

And if you like what you’re seeing, please consider supporting this site on Patreon.

So That’s What Happened on the Sixth Day of Creation…

There’s nothing more entertaining than watching Creationists argue over the specifics of how God created the world. Answers in Genesis even publishes “research” papers where they duke out their theories. The best part is that you don’t need to do any actual science to get published. You just have to pull shit of a different odor out of your ass.

For example, after Dr. Bruce Gordon, an Old Earth Creationist who doesn’t take the Book of Genesis literally, said there’s no way God could’ve created...

The Fine Points of Solicitation, or What’s Wrong With This Snow Job?

Like most people, I love a little sweat-of-your-brow initiative, and it’s twice as cool if it’s displayedby budding entrepreneurswho aren’t even out of high school yet. So two teenagersgoing door to door after a heavy snowstorm, asking if they can help out by shoveling driveways and sidewalks for a little extra cash… that’s excellent. Who would possibly object to it?

The Jersey cops, that’s who. They picked up two Bridgewaterhigh-school seniors and told them to scram, because

“They need a permi...

Which European Leaders Are Atheists?

With Greece and France both having atheist leaders, Quartz put together this map of the religious beliefs of European heads of state:

(Croatia’s Zoran Milanović is the other major non-religious world leader.)

Gotta love that magenta. Not because being atheists makes those leaders better, but because you would hope they’re more open to evidence-based thinking.

If this map were extended, it would be the one time the United States is bathed in blue…

Christian Columnist: If Delaware’s Governor Can Issue a Darwin Proclamation, Bobby Jindal Can Have a Prayer Rally

The other day, I posted about how Delaware Governor Jack Markell issued a proclamation in honor of Charles Darwin‘s birthday recognizing his accomplishments.

Charisma‘s Jennifer LeClaire points out that Christians haven’t flipped out about it, so atheists should let prayer rallies slide, too:

… no one is persecuting Markell for his godless move. But let former Texas Gov. Rick Perry or Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal pray in the name of Jesus in a public setting and all hell breaks loose.

That’s an a...

Town of Greece (NY), Center of Supreme Court Ruling, Will Have Two Atheists Delivering Invocations This Year

Last year, atheist Dan Courtney delivered an invocation at the Greece (New York) Town Board meeting, making him the first atheist to do so at the focal point of the Greece v. Galloway Supreme Court ruling.

Dan Courtney prepares to deliver his invocation (via David Niose)

Remember: This is the town that had overwhelmingly Christian prayers (to Jesus Christ, no less, not a generic God) for several years before two residents stepped in and challenged them.

Even after that, the board only had a few...

Snake Oil Alert: Why Gwyneth Paltrow Gets Her Vagina Steam-Cleaned, and Why You Probably Shouldn’t

If you have a vagina, and it could breakinto a monologue (thankyou, Eve Ensler), it would probably ask you to keep it awayfrom vaginasteam baths.

And that’s despite what actress Gwyneth Paltrow tells you to do.

Ms. Paltrow loves to get a V-steam.In her lifestyle newsletter GOOP,she swoons:

“You sit on what is essentially a mini-throne, and a combination of infrared and mugwort steam cleanses your uterus, et al. It is an energetic release — not just a steam douche — that balances female hormone l...

Michelle Obama Didn’t Wear a Headscarf in Saudi Arabia… but It Wasn’t Really a Bold Statement

Earlier this week, President Obama and Michelle Obama met with Saudi leaders following the death of King Abdullah, and much of the conversation surrounding the visit was focused on how the first lady wasn’t wearing a headscarf and how that was a bold stance against the treatment of women in the country:

… Mrs. Obama stepped off of Air Force One wearing long pants and a long, brightly colored jacket — but no headscarf.

…

Under the kingdom’s strict dress code for women, Saudi females are required...

This Sort of Natural Violence is All Too Common Throughout History…

Oh, natural selection, why must you be so cruel?

In what many are calling its most grotesque tactic, the killer appeared to single out the most vulnerable organisms — particularly the young and the physically weak — for its murderous rampage, slaughtering them without mercy as other members of their species fled in panic. Reports indicated those who escaped the carnage were left with no choice but to try to move on with their lives and survive even as the ruthless killer continued stalking the...